Summary

Chapter 7, Loss of Loved Ones, delves into the cruel and manipulative tactics abusers use to control their victims' grief and isolate them from their support networks. It focuses on the denial of attending funerals as a stark example of coercive control, where the abuser dictates the terms of the victim's mourning under the guise of "protection." This manipulation erodes the victim's autonomy, self-worth, and connections to loved ones, leaving them emotionally vulnerable and dependent on the abuser. The chapter emphasizes the profound emotional toll of such isolation and the need to recognize and address these insidious behaviors. It concludes with a call to support victims who have been denied the right to grieve and reconnect with their communities.